When winter weather takes hold in your region and temperatures plummet below zero, you definitely want to take steps to keep your home warm and cozy. Unfortunately, your structure could be working against you, leaking heat into the outside, compromising the comfort of your home, and costing you money in the process.
How can you find out where the bought air is leaking from your home and what can you do to stop your home from losing heat this winter (and for many winters to come)? Here are a few strategies to employ.
Conduct a Home Energy Audit
If you fear your home is hemorrhaging heat and jacking up utility bills in the process, it’s a good idea to schedule a professional home energy audit. This service includes inspection and testing that can pinpoint areas of energy waste throughout your home.
You could be losing heat around windows, doors, pipes, vents, and even the seams of your structure. Once you conduct your home energy audit, you’ll know exactly where these areas of leakage are so you can begin to address them.
Combat Insulation Issues
The most common areas for heat loss in homes are around windows and doors, but there are several ways to combat such issues. You might want to start with easy and inexpensive solutions like weatherstripping. If your weatherstripping is old and deteriorated, an upgrade could put a stop to leaks around the edges of windows and doors, and you can often find suitable products for just a few bucks at your local hardware store.
Of course, your problems could be more serious. For single-paned windows that provide little protection, adding storm windows or better yet, upgrading to double-paned windows could dramatically improve insulation in this area. If the insulation in your open attic is old, replacing it should be relatively easy and help to stop rising heat from leaking through the roof.
As for insulation in walls, this is not so easy to replace, but doing so could truncate your heating bills, helping you to recoup up-front costs over time and enjoy a warmer, more comfortable home in the process. Don’t forget to treat leaks around pipes and vents with proper fillers or sealants.
Maintain Your HVAC System
A failing HVAC system could cause your home to lose heat in a variety of ways, and end up costing you a ton. This is why proper maintenance from a reputable and experienced service like Arundel Cooling & Heating is so important. A professional technician can tune up your heating equipment so that it functions at optimal levels, ensuring enough heat is pumping into your home interior and that you’re not experiencing energy waste.
You’ll also want to check ductwork, as deterioration could lead to leaks within the walls that compromise comfort and cost you a lot. In addition, you could consider upgrading your system to include a digital, programmable thermostat if you don’t already have one. Programming your thermostat in keeping with Department of Energy recommendations could save you some serious dough on your heating bills.